I believe the media, including Skip Bayless, were wrong in covering a professional athlete’s self-remonstrances after a poor or mistaken play (“Woods needs to put tongue in ball-washer,” Sports, June 18). What Tiger Woods was saying to himself was none of our business, not for public consumption, not directed at anyone but himself, and as such, should not have been covered or reported. These were private thoughts heard by others only because of the intrusion of television monitors.
As a retired South Chicago steel mill boss, I am used to foul language, and although I disapprove of it in the presence of the general public, I believe a person has a right to express himself in any way he chooses in private. And Tiger Woods was in private on that golf course. It was the television crew that invaded his space. The television crew had the responsibility and ability to censor Tiger’s words.
As for Tom Kite’s comments of never having seen Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus or Tom Watson do it, was the technology available when these men were in their prime?
Tiger Woods in public is an exemplary and well-spoken gentleman. What he is in private should be nobody’s business. I believe the Tribune wasted space and Skip Bayless wasted his considerable talent on the column.
